A Jacksonville organization that helps people who’ve been in trouble with the law find gainful employment is getting a $1.5 million U.S. Department of Labor grant to work with juvenile offenders.Fresh Ministries Urban Operations Director Bobby Lee says the federal funds will be used to fund a new three year program targeting fourteen to twenty-four year olds.
“We’re going to be helping them overcome legal, personal, educational training and any other barriers to employment they might have. We’re trying to significantly enhance their employability in some of these high growth economic sectors," Lee said. "We’re trying to create upward mobility so they have promising career pathways. And we’re also trying to give them the life skills they need.”
Lee says case managers will also work with the courts to get clients’ juvenile records sealed or expunged.
The U.S. Labor Department requires Fresh Ministries to enroll 188 young people, but Lee says the organization expects to be able to help at least 200.
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